Page 273 of Face Off

Tears fill her eyes. “That’s cruel.”

“No. It’s a question.”

“We’ve been together for a year.”

“You’ve kept me waiting for a year.”

“I made mistakes.”

“Once is a mistake. You built a fucking schedule.”

“That’s unfair.”

“So was trusting you.”

She reaches for him. Briggs steps backward before she can touch him.

The movement shocks both of them. “You’re letting them turn you against me,” Lyric says but her finger points at me.

“No.” His voice cracks, but he forces it louder. “You did that.”

“I wish I had that power.” I say but she rolls her.

Briggs—”

“You did this. Not Ryan. Not Bliss. Not anyone. You.”

“I said I made mistakes.”

“You lied every time I asked.”

“Because you become like this!”

“Like what?” He strikes one hand against his chest. “Hurt? Angry? Fucking humiliated because I loved someone who treated me like a backup plan or an ATM?”

“You’re proving my point, you sound pathetic.”

“Pathetic? That I have feelings?”

“That you make everything exhausting.”

“Then you don’t have to do it anymore.”

Lyric’s face empties.

Briggs drags both hands beneath his eyes and looks at her. “I’m done.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I don’t want to mean it.” His shoulders shake as he steps away from her. “That’s the fucking pathetic part. I want you to say something that makes me believe you again. I want you to cry, touch me, call me baby, and tell me everyone misunderstood what we watched happen.”

Lyric’s tears spill over.

Briggs points at them. “See? That. You know exactly what works.”

“I’m crying because I love you.”

“No. You’re crying because I finally caught you.”